GUWAHATI: The Pune Police on Thursday, February 27, announced a ₹1 lakh reward for any information leading to the arrest of Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, a 37-year-old man accused of raping a woman inside a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus at the Swargate depot.
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The incident reportedly took place on February 25, and it has drawn comparisons to the 2012 Nirbhaya incident, as the crime occurred inside a closed bus, just 100 metres from the Swargate Police Station.
Gade, a resident of Gunat village in Shirur taluka, reportedly has a history of robbery and theft. Police are investigating whether he has committed any previous sexual offenses. His photograph has been released, and authorities have urged the public to provide information while ensuring confidentiality.
Gade has been on the run for over 48 hours, prompting an extensive manhunt. Police have questioned his friends and family members, scanned CCTV footage from the depot and surrounding areas, and conducted forensic examinations of the crime scene. The bus driver’s statement has also been recorded.
According to police reports, the 26-year-old victim was waiting at Swargate depot to catch a bus to her hometown in Satara district around 5:30 AM on Tuesday. Gade allegedly misled her into boarding an unoccupied Shivshahi bus, a semi-luxury AC vehicle, where he sexually assaulted her. Due to the sealed windows, her cries for help went unheard.
The crime, committed in a high-security zone, has triggered protests from political parties and civil rights groups, questioning safety measures at transport hubs.
A case has been registered under Sections 64 (rape) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
